Amusement park ride with vehicles pivoting about a common chassis to provide racing and other effects

• Main Authors: CRAWFORD DAVID W, HOWARD DEREK, BAKER PAUL E, SUMNER MARK W, ROSE CHRISTOPHER J, DURHAM DAVID A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 27.03.2012
• Subjects: AMUSEMENTS; CHUTES; GAMES; HUMAN NECESSITIES; MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; ROCKING-HORSES; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT; SPORTS; SWINGS; SWITCHBACKS

A ride system is provided that allows selective relative positioning of vehicles in an amusement or theme park ride to simulate racing or other effects. The ride system includes a chassis that is adapted to be supported by and to travel on or along a length of track of a particular ride. A support is attached to the chassis and moves with the chassis during operation of the ride. The ride system includes first and second passenger vehicles that are spaced apart on and supported by the support. A drive assembly is linked to the support and configured to rotate the support about its central axis. During support rotation, the first and second vehicles are moved concurrently relative to the track to alter their relative positioning. The vehicles are each rotated about an axis that extends parallel to the rotation axis, and the rotation may be independent or concurrent.